Paris is a city of love and romance. It is a city of sparkling wines, enamoring fashion, attractive fountains, artistic bridges, historical monuments, magnificent cathedrals, splendid palaces, and elegant night clubs. Visiting famous museums in Paris can be a fascinating experience for any person, especially if the person is interested in exploring some facts regarding the culture and history of the nation. If you are planning to visit Paris this summer, then take a look at the list of most famous museums in Paris, presented below.Best Art Museums in Paris
Louvre: Louvre is the largest museum in central Paris. It is situated on the banks of the Seine, in the western part of the city. The dark fortress of the 12th century was gradually converted into a magnificent palace for the royal family. On completion of the palace of Versailles, Louis XIV went to live there. In 1692, part of the palace was converted into a museum and was opened for the public. The collections gradually increased and spread to the vast complex of buildings. The palace Louvre is one of the oldest and foremost museums in the world. It is known for the glorious work of art it houses. Some of the most stunning collections of artwork in the world are displayed in this museum. Those who visit Louvre for the first time, look eagerly for the museum’s three great ladies – the Venus de Milo, the Victory of Samothrace, and Mona Lisa. Along with symbolic paintings, you will be able to see exclusive sculptures and the art of calligraphy in Islam. The open-air sculpture museum in the gardens of the palace is worth seeing.
The museum is closed on national holidays and Tuesdays. The museum contains about 380,000 objects and 35,000 pieces of art, which are spread over an area of 60,600 square meters (652,000 sq. ft)! The paintings, sculptures, archaeological findings, the enchanting architecture, in fact everything is exclusive. Louvre is the world's most visited museum, and is one of the most famous French museums. About 15,000 people visit Louvre everyday.
Counterfeit Museum: Those who are interested in visiting a completely different type of museum should think of visiting the Counterfeit Museum, situated in the 16th Arrondissement of Paris. It was created in 1951, by the Union des Fabricants, to show the differences between the real things and their copies; and thus to educate the people. The items in this museum keep on changing. It contains everyday items like mobile phones, Levis jeans, Bic razors, Barbie dolls, pens, numerous types of sports shoes, Swiss Army knives, cigarette lighters, and various other items. If you want to visit this fascinating museum, the nearest metro stop is Porte Dauphine. This museum is closed on Mondays.
The Musee de Notre Dame: Everyone visits the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris during his / her stay there; but very few people visit this museum situated at a walking distance from the Notre Dame Cathedral. This museum is situated in the 4th Arrondissement of Paris. Those who want to know more about the history of the Notre dame Cathedral, should visit this museum. This museum contains several archeological findings which throw light on the Gallo Roman times and the Middle Ages. The old drawings, plans and engravings, displayed in the museum provide information on the mysteries and various stages of the construction of Notre Dame Cathedral.
Jacquemart-André Museum: This unusual museum is just a stone’s throw from the Champs Elysées, the world famous and prestigious avenue in Paris. It is an amazing and spectacular home and art collection of the world famous couple Nélie Jacquemart- Edouard André. Edouard spent most of his money in buying authentic works of art; and displayed those pieces of art in his new mansion, which was ready in 1875. His wife Nélie Jacquemart was a well-known painter. They traveled to Italy and brought beautiful pieces of art to France. After Edouard's death, Neil decorated the mansion and handed it over to the Institut de France as a museum. This museum is open to public since 1913. The museum contains French, Italian and Dutch paintings, furniture and several artistic objects. I am sure you would like to know more on the best contemporary art museums in the world. Here is a list of some other museums in Paris, which you should visit.
List of Famous Museums in Paris
- L'Espace Dali Museum: Located in the Montmartre area, displays exclusive work of the artist Salvador Dali.
- Cernuschi Museum: Located in the former mansion of Henri Cernuschi in Paris, displays Chinese and Japanese art.
- La Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie Museum: Situated in the former slaughter house area known as La Villette. It is one of the world's largest and most popular science and technology museums.
- VIN, Musée du or Wine Museum In Paris: Museum of French grapes and wine, situated near the Eiffel tower. It displays everything about wine, the main passion of the French people.
- The Grand Carriage Museum at Versailles: It has a grand collection of carriages and coaches made for King Louis-Philippe. Some ornate pieces (carriages, chairs, holders, etc.) are so beautiful that you would love to visit the museum again. The museum is closed on Mondays.
